Filing: Crundwell Took from Charitable Fund

ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) -- At least half a dozen public officials are expected to make victim statements at this week's sentencing of a small-town Illinois bookkeeper who stole $53 million in public funds.

A government filing Tuesday says Dixon Mayor James Burke is among those who will describe how Rita Crundwell's crimes devastated his northern Illinois community.

As the city's longtime comptroller, Crundwell used the stolen money to fund her nationally renowned horse-breeding operation and luxurious tastes.

She's scheduled to be sentenced Thursday in Rockford. The most the 60-year-old could face is 20 years in prison after pleading guilty in November to a felony count of wire fraud. A state case against her is still pending.

Prosecutors contend her case is one of the most egregious abuses of public trust ever in Illinois.

ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) -- A court filing shows that a small-town Illinois bookkeeper who embezzled $53 million in public money also stole from a charitable fund the city set up for its sister city program.

The Telegraph in Dixon reports (http://bit.ly/12uyiKd) that prosecutors said in a Tuesday filing that Rita Crundwell took at least $25,000 from the account. Prosecutors say an FBI agent will testify about the account thefts at Crundwell's sentencing on Thursday in Rockford.

At least half a dozen public officials are expected to make victim statements at the former Dixon comptroller's sentencing, including Mayor James Burke.

They are expected to describe how Crundwell's crimes devastated the northern Illinois community.

Crundwell pleaded guilty in November. Prosecutors contend her case is one of the most egregious abuses of public trust ever in Illinois.

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